Wraithlord's post also reminded me:
Dominions II actually received quite a many improvements, which would have been enough for a small expansion pack for many other company, in the patches. I'm not even sure of all the goodies we got, but the whole modding system, Black Forest of Ulm, Golden Era of Arcoscephale, Oceania (with its shapechanging units) in a mod, probably some others. Was Return of the Raptors added in a patch, or was it in from the beginning? I think it was, but I'm not sure.
Oceania reminds me of another thing. Units can change shape when they get from under water to land - if new abilities are added for new races, this gives more options, and enables more strategies and tactics. This might force some of the tried and true strategies/tactics to adapt. And that, in turn, is fun. I think I'll like Dom3.
